Rare book on display at Jackson shop
A Jackson Hole bookstore is displaying a rare sample copy of Tashcen’s “Murals of Tibet”. The book, on display for the next few weeks at Jackson Hole Book Trader is signed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The sample book includes photographs of 130 centuries-old, life-sized art work from Tibetan Buddhist temples, monasteries, stupas, and other sites dating from the year 633. A separate copy of the book is safely stored in a back room of the store and is for sale for $12,000.
“I want to bring objects–books–to Jackson that people wouldn’t be able to experience unless they went to a big city,” said Book Trader owner Susan Temple. “This book, with it subject matter, seemed like something people in Jackson would be interested in seeing and experiencing. I feel like there is a spiritual connection between Jackson and Tibet.”
Photographer Thomas Laird spent nearly 10 years traveling Tibet using a new multi-image digital photography technique to create the 50-pound book. Collectors bought most of the 998 available copies.
The Dalai Lama signed each copy. And, each copy comes with a foldable bookstand bookstand.
Temple said she doesn’t know how long the book will be on display, but believes it will be at least a month. “We’re going to keep it for as long as we can. It is blessed and signed by the Dalai Lama–it’s nice to have around just for that,” said Temple.
